The 55 Folding Pocket Knife

After having just purchased the 50th Anniversary edition of the Buck 11o folding hunting knife, I had to have this smaller version of that knife for everyday carry. Let me start by saying I am not a knife collector, I don't keep knives in a box, but I do purchase a lot of knives. To me, every true red blooded American should own this knife, or any man for that matter. This knife is the little brother of an American classic and it is every bit as functional and beautiful as the Buck 110, both of which are made in America! After holding the Buck 110 in my hands and seeing how beautiful the craftsmanship was, I wanted more. I wanted a knife like that that was small enough for me to carry with me everywhere. Enter the Buck 55. This knife is almost an exact miniature version of the 110. The Knife I received was shaving sharp right out of the box, literally (I have the bald spot on the back of my hand to prove it). There was absolutely zero side to side blade wiggle (a good test of any quality knife), and the blade is gorgeous. This knife is made out of the same 440HC steel used on the Buck 110. This is a special 440 High Carbon steel I believe only used by Buck and it is very well known for holding an edge exceptionally well. Carry... I like to have a knife on me at all times, and I had been wanting to get a new EDC carry knife for quite some time. I don't think I'll be saying those words ever again for the rest of my knife. This knife will be in my pocket until the day I die, and even then I am sure it will still be in excellent working condition and be handed down to my daughter. The Buck 55 fits perfectly in the 5th pocket in a pair of jeans which is really nice. My previous EDC knife was a CRKT Kasper (CRKT makes some great knives at great reasonable prices) and I had carried that knife for over 5 years. I work in an office environment and don't like having a large knife sticking out of my pocket but always want a good knife on me at all times. This knife is perfect if that sounds similar to you. It's unassuming so as fine to use in an office but 100% up to serious cutting tasks. If not abused, this is a knife that lasts a lifetime and will look good doing it. If you are on the fence about this knife, I highly recommend buying it now. It is worth every penny and you will not be disappointed. You can't beat Bucks 4Ever warranty either. I am nostalgic man and already think about how cool it is that this knife will get handed down to my family when I am no longer around, as I know this knife will surely outlast me.

Don't let it fool you though. It is insanely sharp. I cut my finger and didn't even realize when I was showing the knife to my wife until I started seeing blood splotches on it and my hands. But yeah, a great little pocket knife for lighter duty and precision tasks with an exquisite design, materials, and craftsmanship. Update: The cut healed after 1 day and was so clean and sharp that I can't even tell where it was at all - and yeah, I don't have a problem with my nerves nor eyesight or anything. But enough about that... Thanks.

This is a great knife and concept, a 110 shrunk down to an adorable yet useful pocket knife size. The thing just exudes quality and class, feels good in the hand, has zero blade play, and it came scary sharp (bald patch on my forearm to prove it!) with a needle-pointy tip as well. I thought about getting a 500 series, but I prefer the clip point over the drop point for its fine detail and piercing ability (it looks cooler, too), and also the brass bolsters over the nickel silver bolsters because I like how the brass patinas. It's easier to just grab the blade with your thumb and forefinger than to use the actual nail nick. It's refreshing to use an old-school lockback after having fiddled with a liner lock knife before. You would think the handle would be too small to be comfortable but it's not really. I have pretty big hands and I can still get good leverage on it. The brass and wood composite are so nice to hold that I tend to turn it over in my hand while thinking about something. The blade steel is 420HC, as most of Buck's knives are. It may not be the latest gee-whiz supersteel, but I'll tell you what, it's an honest working steel that's proved its worth from decades of hard use on 110s. During my research, reviewers on Youtube have stated that this particular Bos heat-treated 420HC is at least on-par with 440C and AUS-8. I repair and build computers, so I used it recently to open packages of new gear and cut cable management zip ties (another plus of the clip point, the end of the blade is thinner so it can fit inside the zip tie better). I'm also finding myself pulling it out for miscellaneous uses that I didn't think of before I carried a knife, such as cutting a loose thread instead of pulling on it. It hasn't dulled yet after a week of sporadic use, but I got a ceramic sharpener for when it does. Overall I couldn't be happier and I expect it to serve me well for years to come. Note: I saw some people saying the lockbar is raised slightly on the back end while in the closed position, this is normal. They grind the lockbar flush in the open position so you have a smooth surface while using it. If they ground it flush closed then the opposite would be true. I heard their custom knives don't do this, though.

Love this little knife. Stays sharp and easy to carry in front pocket of my jeans. Very handy to have

You might wonder why this thing is priced like it’s big bros. I wondered myself, it almost seemed impossible that this knife would be half the size of the 110, but it really is. The biggest difference is that from 110 to 112 the knife gets shorter but stays thick. The 112 is a heavy knife for its size. The 55 is thinner, much thinner. All that being said it’s also the only small knife I’ve found that feels as solid as a big knife. This thing is nice, I noticed right away that the bolsters were superior to my Texas toothpick from buck. It’s like when you get to that $60 price point they use much better materials. It’s a great knife if you simply do not want to carry around a 110 or 112. The 55 is definitely small enough to fit into the small pocket in your jeans. It’s useful and not at all intimidating. This is your “box hunting” knife, your fruit ninja knife.

Wow, this Buck knife is simply amazing. Fit and finish is superb, blade centered exactly, opens and closes smooth, and sharper than anything you’ve seen. Made in USA and you can tell it’s hand-made. The size is great too. I was worried it might be a bit too small but not at all, it’s a little bigger than the pictures might make it seem (which is a good thing). Perfectly sized for the pocket, where the 112 and 110 are not even practical for the pocket. You’ll like the feel of this in the hand, not skimpy at all, it feels just right and isn’t too heavy nor too light. Solid craftsmanship and worth the price, this will last a lifetime. Handles are hand-smoothed and it all feels custom. The 55 is the model for you if you’re actually wanting a solid Buck locking pocketknife and not a “sheath/holster” knife like it’s bigger brothers.

Great toy

Overview: I'm a big fan of buck knives and what they stand by, and this little knife is definitely no exception. It holds an edge, it's easy to sharpen, and greatest of all, it is the perfect size for doing most anything on the smaller scale. It might even be big enough to clean a small trout if you're an accomplished angler. Already owning the venerable Buck 110, I knew I needed a smaller version of it--which the 55 is exactly that. However, as with any product, there are pros and cons I discovered. What I liked about this knife: 1. 420HC is generally considered a lower-end/softer blade steel, but with Buck's tempering process, it becomes hard to beat, no pun intended. Put simply, Buck's 420 is the best 420 there is. It holds an edge just fine. It might not cut down trees without getting dulled, but that's what chainsaws are for. I've never had problems with rust or corrosion on this steel, which is a huge bonus too many people don't consider. 2. The locking mechanism feels very strong and smooth--a big factor when considering both personal safety and reliability in a folder. Once you see how it works, you'll realize its beefier than most designs. 3. The blade had little to no play in it upon opening the box, which is a sign of better construction. 4. The polishing on the brass was excellent--not a scratch. 5. The size, as before mentioned. It is a Swiss Army Knife without the excessive and unnecessary bits and bobs you never use. It is perfect for doing most anything, unless you're skinning a bear or something like that. What needs improvement: 1. I personally felt like the wood in the handles was a little bit lower-end, which is why I didn't feel entirely honest about giving the knife five stars. It just had that cheaper feeling typical in a knife manufactured overseas, though that description might be overdoing it a bit. It was just 'good', not the 'great' I've seen in Buck's other knives, to put it best. 2. The fit and finish was excellent as far as functionality is concerned, but there were edges that just had that sharp, unfinished, unrounded feeling. To add to that, there was a considerable amount of factory dirt on the knife out of the box. After oiling and cleaning the mechanism and blade, however, it came right off. Overall I still consider it a great knife, even though it might have a few quirks that keep it from a full rating.